Manhunt For Accused Rapist Ends In Luzerne County

US Marshals, several local departments, and State Police ended a manhunt in Luzerne County after a rape suspect was taken into custody this morning.

Philip Smith, 41 of Pittston, was taken into custody in Wilkes-Barre and transported to Pittston City Hall where he was arraigned.

Smith was wanted for charges in relation to the repeated sexual assault of a 14 year old girl.

Smith was sought by police for allegedly raping a teenage girl multiple times over the summer after giving her alcohol in his garage.

Police matched his DNA to DNA found on the girl, however Smith went on the run.

Smith is accused of first raping the girl on Aug. 19 or Aug. 20 in Pittston after giving her a cigarette.
Police say the two had previously met and were friends on Facebook.
According to police, Smith raped her again on Aug. 26.
Smith faces charges of statutory rape, aggravated indecent assault of a minor, corruption of minors, and indecent assault of a child. 

​Smith is in jail on $300,000 bail.